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	The '''Moral Majority''' was a political organization of the ] which had an ] of evangelical ]-oriented political ]. It dissolved during ].		The '''Moral Majority''' was a political organization of the ] which had an ] of evangelical ]-oriented political ]. It dissolved during ].

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	Moral Majority was initiated as a result of a struggle for control of an American conservative Christian advocacy group known as ] during ]. During a news conference by Christian Voice's founder, ], he claimed that the ] was a "sham... controlled by three ] and a Jew." ], ], ] and ] left Christian Voice. During a ] meeting, they urged televangelist ] to found Moral Majority. This was also the beginning of the ].<ref name="Martin1996a">{{cite book \|last=Martin\|first=William\|date=1996\|title=With God on Our Side: The Rise of the Religious Right in America\|location=New York\|publisher=Broadway Books}}</ref><ref name="Diamond1995a">{{cite book\|last=Sara\|first=Diamond\|date=1995\|title=Roads to Dominion\|location=New York\|publisher=Guilford Press}}</ref>.		Moral Majority was initiated as a result of a struggle for control of an American conservative Christian advocacy group known as ] during ]. During a news conference by Christian Voice's founder, ], he claimed that the ] was a "sham... controlled by three ] and a Jew." ], ], ] and ] left Christian Voice. During a ] meeting, they urged televangelist ] to found Moral Majority. This was also the beginning of the ].<ref name="Martin1996a">{{cite book \|last=Martin\|first=William\|date=1996\|title=With God on Our Side: The Rise of the Religious Right in America\|location=New York\|publisher=Broadway Books}}</ref><ref name="Diamond1995a">{{cite book\|last=Sara\|first=Diamond\|date=1995\|title=Roads to Dominion\|location=New York\|publisher=Guilford Press}}</ref>.

	Moral Majority was an organization made up of conservative Christian political action committees, which campaigned on issues its personnel believed were important to maintaining its Christian conception of moral law, a conception they believed represented the opinions of the majority of Americans (hence the movement's name). With a membership of millions, the ''Moral Majority'' was one of the largest conservative lobby groups in the ]. Some issues for which it campaigned:		Moral Majority was an organization made up of conservative Christian political action committees, which campaigned on issues its personnel believed were important to maintaining its Christian conception of moral law, a conception they believed represented the opinions of the majority of Americans (hence the movement's name). With a membership of millions, the ''Moral Majority'' was one of the largest conservative lobby groups in the ]. Some issues for which it campaigned included:<ref name="columbia">
	* outlawing ]		* outlawing ]
	* opposition to state recognition and acceptance of ]		* opposition to state recognition and acceptance of ]
			* opposition to the ] and ]
	* enforcement of a traditionalist vision of ] life		* enforcement of a traditionalist vision of ] life
	* ] of media outlets that promote what it labeled as an 'anti-family' agenda		* ] of media outlets that promote what it labeled as an 'anti-family' agenda
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	The Moral Majority had adherents in the two major United States political parties, the ] and the ], though it exercised far more influence on the former.		The Moral Majority had adherents in the two major United States political parties, the ] and the ], though it exercised far more influence on the former.

	Falwell was the organization's best known spokesperson throughout the 1980s. By ], Moral Majority surpassed Christian Voice in size and influence. The organization dissolved officially in 1989 ~~but~~ ~~lives~~ on ~~in the ] network~~ ~~initiated~~ by ].		Falwell was the organization's best known spokesperson throughout the 1980s. By ], Moral Majority surpassed Christian Voice in size and influence. The organization dissolved officially in 1989<ref name="columbia">{{cite encyclopedia
			\| title = Moral Majority
			\| encyclopedia = ]
			\| volume = 6th ed.
			\| publisher = ]
			\| date = 2004
			\| url = http://www.bartleby.com/65/e-/E-MoralMajo.html
			\| accessdate = 2007-08-11 }}</ref> but lives on in the ] network initiated by ].<ref>http://www.wfu.edu/~matthetl/perspectives/thirtyone.html</ref>

	In ], a series of exposés (later nominated for the ]) by ] reporter ] led to some condemning the interactions between the Moral Majority and the Republican Party.		In ], a series of exposés (later nominated for the ]) by ] reporter ] led to some condemning the interactions between the Moral Majority and the Republican Party.

	==The Moral Majority Coalition==		==The Moral Majority Coalition==
	In November ], Falwell revived the Moral Majority name for a new organization, the ]. The intent of the organization is to continue the "evangelical revolution" to help conservative politicians get elected. Referring to the Coalition as a "21st century resurrection of the Moral Majority," Falwell, a father of the modern "religious right" political movement, committed to leading the organization for four years, but died on May 15, 2007.		In November ], Falwell revived the Moral Majority name for a new organization, the Moral Majority Coalition. The intent of the organization is to continue the "evangelical revolution" to help conservative politicians get elected. Referring to the Coalition as a "21st century resurrection of the Moral Majority," Falwell, a father of the modern "religious right" political movement, committed to leading the organization for four years<ref name="timeline"></ref>, but died on May 15, 2007.<ref name="falwelldeath">. ], May 15, 2007.</ref>

	==Pop culture references==
	* In 1981 a probable studio group calling themselves The Electric Church recorded a sarcastic parody song done in an upbeat pop/country style called "The Moral Majority".
	In it the singer sings about all the successes The Moral Majority had in the 1980 elections (i.e. the election of Ronald Reagan as President - "We sent Jimmy back to Georgia, we moved Bonzo to D.C.") and plays the role of a hypocritical Televangelist who is only interested in money and power ("Do you know how much one of these pinky rings cost me?"). The record was released nationally on the Plantation label, which released many off-the-wall and aggressive country/rock tunes over the years, most notably "Harper Valley P.T.A." by Jeannie C. Riley. The record was produced by Shad O'Shea who was the owner of Fraternity records, a Cincinnati, Ohio based brand.

	* The ] band ] makes a reference to the moral majority in their single "]" with the line "I want to be the minority/I don't need your authority/Down with the moral majority/'cause I want to be the minority".

	* The ] band "]" mentions the moral majority in their song "WW III" (or World War 3) ], in one of their lines, "War on the moral majority, on corporate.com imperialism".

	* The ] band ] had a song called "Moral Majority" on their EP '']'' and as the B-side of their single "]". The song's introduction is a satirical ] piece from the point of view of a hypocritical ] and a rendition of the spiritual "]" segueing into the '']'' theme.

	* The ], another hardcore punk band, also had a song called "Moral Majority" on their second LP '']''.

	* The DC ] band, ] (not to be confused with the California band, with the same name) put a song called Moral Majority on the 1982 ] compilation, ].

	* In the movie '']'' a large-]ed woman wears a very revealing ] with the words "Moral Majority" printed upon it.

	* ]'s "The Oral Majority" sketch is a direct parody.

	* '80s/'90s band ] use a sample of a Jerry Falwell speech in a track, opening their ''Cure for Sanity'' album, called "The Incredible PWEI vs. the Moral Majority".

	* The Welsh band ] sing "Number one - the best - no excuse from me I am here to serve the moral majority" (sarcastically) in their song "Ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayitsworldwouldfallapart".

	* The ] game '']'' begins the game with the message "This is also unsuitable for censors, members of the Moral Majority, and anyone else who thinks that sex is dirty rather than fun."

	* In the ] game '']'', among the many signs at the airport terminals, one reads: "Where does the Moral Majority turn to promote censorship and creeping Fascism? 'Slant,' the Holier-Than-Thou Newsweekly. No liberal pandering, no pinko editorial cartoons, no objective journalism... just good ol' fashioned Fundamentalism. Printed on 100% recycled environmentalists."

	* During a scene in the film '']'', a class of students discusses the impact of pop culture on real-life violence. When it is implied that the fictional movie ''Stab'' was the influence for the murder of a young couple, CiCi (played by ]) replies: "That is so moral majority."

	*The Grunge band, ] refers to itself as "neither moral, nor majority" in its song "Pretend we're dead" on its third studio album, ].

	*A popular ] displayed by opponents of the group read: "The Moral Majority is Neither!"

	*In the Marvel comic ] volume 2 #1 ] says: "They make the ], ] and Moral Majority look like a knitting club!" while referring to the future Citizen's Protectorate.

	==Notable people within the movement==		==Notable people within the movement==
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	*]		*]
	*]		*]

			==References==
			{{reflist}}

	==See also==		==See also==
	* ] (Note that the Moral Majority was not 'moralist' in the humanist sense.)		* ] (Note that the Moral Majority was not 'moralist' in the humanist sense.)

			==External links==
			*
	]		]
	]		]

Revision as of 01:32, 12 August 2007

The Moral Majority was a political organization of the United States which had an agenda of evangelical Christian-oriented political lobbying. It dissolved during 1989.

History

Moral Majority was initiated as a result of a struggle for control of an American conservative Christian advocacy group known as Christian Voice during 1978. During a news conference by Christian Voice's founder, Robert Grant, he claimed that the Religious Right was a "sham... controlled by three Catholics and a Jew." Paul Weyrich, Terry Dolan, Richard Viguerie and Howard Phillips left Christian Voice. During a 1979 meeting, they urged televangelist Jerry Falwell to found Moral Majority. This was also the beginning of the New Christian Right..

Moral Majority was an organization made up of conservative Christian political action committees, which campaigned on issues its personnel believed were important to maintaining its Christian conception of moral law, a conception they believed represented the opinions of the majority of Americans (hence the movement's name). With a membership of millions, the Moral Majority was one of the largest conservative lobby groups in the United States. Some issues for which it campaigned included:Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). but lives on in the Christian Coalition network initiated by Pat Robertson.

In 1981, a series of exposés (later nominated for the Pulitzer Prize) by Memphis reporter Mike Clark led to some condemning the interactions between the Moral Majority and the Republican Party.

The Moral Majority Coalition

In November 2004, Falwell revived the Moral Majority name for a new organization, the Moral Majority Coalition. The intent of the organization is to continue the "evangelical revolution" to help conservative politicians get elected. Referring to the Coalition as a "21st century resurrection of the Moral Majority," Falwell, a father of the modern "religious right" political movement, committed to leading the organization for four years, but died on May 15, 2007.

Notable people within the movement

References

Martin, William (1996). With God on Our Side: The Rise of the Religious Right in America. New York: Broadway Books.
Sara, Diamond (1995). Roads to Dominion. New York: Guilford Press.
http://www.wfu.edu/~matthetl/perspectives/thirtyone.html
Moral Majority Timeline
Moral Majority founder Falwell dies. MSNBC, May 15, 2007.

External links

Moral Majority Coalition

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